BARWITS

30 September 2921 Not the best of days to visit the RHNR. It was blowing a near gale and I could not face the trek into the teeth of the gale to get to Long Pit to see if the Osprey was still there. The RHNR Facebook Page shows the superb photos of the Osprey taken by JT yesterday (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4713307242092120&set=pcb.4713307565425421).

JT also told me that a few Bar-tailed Godwits had been showing well in front of the Gooder’s Hide near the Discovery Centre. So under the circumstances I just took a walk from the car park directly to the River Mouth and back. Flat Beach was very quiet with most birds hunkered down behind the islands including the feeding Starling flocks, but the usual Oystercatcher roosts carried on as usual. A few hardy Redshank were still feeding out in the open but I could not keep my binoculars still enough in the wind to be sure. Holding my camera onto the top of fence posts at least confirmed the Redshank id’s and that they were not distant grey coloured Ruffs or Knots or Bar-tailed Godwits.

Fortunately the Gooder’s Hide Pool did indeed hold three Bar-tailed Godwits today , one in full winter plumage which soon flew off, and a single Redshank. Nice to see the Barwits so close, amazing plumages, I normally see them half a mile away, hence all the photos, no apologies. Later back at the now near deserted car park a Gull landed in front of my car ( photo through windscreen ) and it turned out to be an old friend, the juvenile LesserBbGull that I had seen there before on a few occasions. No doubt it is a locally bred bird and it now seems to have a penchant for visitors’ sandwiches and old dog bones. I thought that was only a Herring Gull trait.

CD has reminded me of the amazing 13,000+ km non-stop autumn migration of Pacific Bar-tailed Godwits from Siberia and Alaska to Australia and New Zealand each year, https://www.facebook.com/MirandaShorebirdCentre/.

PEC AT CASTLE WATER

26 September 2021 A Castle Water visit in the RHNR this morning with AP and JT. There was a fork in the road as we set off but we carried on regardless. At the north end of Castle Water in good early morning light two late Wheatears were on the usual ridges, a few Meadow Pipits were around and a noisy pair of Ravens passed by. Unfortunately by the time we reached the Haplin Hide at Castle Water it clouded over and became duller and duller as the morning progressed. From the Hide we located the expected BnGrebe now in winter plumage as well as two Ruffs, a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Green Sandpipers, and a Snipe. The target bird today was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, a scarce American wader, one was first seen here on the 15th September and maybe it was the same bird that was seen again yesterday . There are so many stretches of nice mud around that the Pec could have been there but not visible behind islands etc. We finally located it but it was very distant and my rather pathetic record photos do it no justice, though you can just about see the diagnostic features including the pectoral breast band coming to a point. 69 Species in total spoilt by the light.

BACK TO SCOTNEY

19 September 2021 Now that the DFL hordes are no longer descending on Camber Sands at the weekends we, myself, AP, and JT, dared to venture past Camber to the Scotney Gravel Pits to do our usual circuit. Conditions were mostly dull with birds mostly distant, so photos not good, mostly record shots but I can never resist Wheatears of which there were a lot ( 11 ) today in comparison to the RHNR. It is still on the cusp of summer and winter as far as species seen were concerned. 67 Species was the total, highlights 200+ Golden Plovers – they are back – 1 Merlin on three occasions, 30 Ruff !, 2 Greenshank, Buzzards ( one with a full crop ! ), Marsh Harriers, Kestrels, 4 Brent Geese overflying, 4 Green Sandpipers, 65 Egyptian Geese !, 8 Avocet, 1 Grey Plover amongst others, a good walk with most of the expected species seen. Good numbers of duck species are now building up along with 500+ Greylag Geese. No feral Barnacle Geese as yet. The highlight for me was four Whinchats that I had missed out on everywhere this autumn, thanks to JT and those eagle eyes. At the most southerly Gravel Pit we were looking into the sun at four small waders, but after checking the photos later, they were unfortunately only Dunlin but the Ruffs and Reeves nearby were showing well.

SOLO at the RHNR

17 September 2021 Having missed out on the two thirds of Slow But Sure circuit of the RHNR last Tuesday, 91 species seen!, I set out alone on the same route today but later in the day. Being alone and quiet instead of in a group talking all the time means less birds, no alarm calls from the bushes etc. so my paltry total was only in the mid 70s but I did get a Tree Creeper in the wood. Flat Beach is a huge area and even with telescopes it is not easy to identify birds. Sitting in the hide near the Discovery Centre with other birders, two of them were convinced the birds they were looking at were a pair of Ruff, my photo evidence says Knot , though one did have a very pronounced supercilium. Two Ruffs were also seen later but very distant with two more or the same Knots. Being high tide there were 200+ Oystercatchers and 500+ Sandwich Terns roosting on various islands, the latter being put up into the air when a Sparrowhawk zoomed over. A lone Golden Plover was a surprise. Over at the Ternery Pool a single Wheatear, now getting scarce, and two Greenshank were visible. On the Salt Pool another Greenshank was roosting with a few Redshank. A very smart Spitfire passed overhead at this point. Harbour Farm Pools East holds three Avocets and one of this years breeding Common Gulls at the moment. Over at Castle Water the usual ducks and waders were present, nice to see more Pintail back again and an increasing number of Green Sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwits. Alas no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper seen two days ago. A large flock of 150+ Meadow Pipits was on the shingle at the south end of Castle Water.

NEWS FROM THE POOLS

16 September 2021 Just an quick update on Pett Pools from a visit yesterday. The Polish Cygnet family have finally abandoned the Roadside Pool and are now way out on the Level. Lots of Greylag Geese are around just east of the Cormorant Pool where the infamous Wigeon murdering GBbGull is back on station with the Cormorants. The Main Pool gateway Mardy Ducks ( all five of them ) are still present dozing before the next free meal along with a hoard of Mallard. The Roadside Pool is now heavily infested with weed but this seems to be very attractive to upending Canada Geese, not something you see every day, and 160+ Coots. A couple of days ago CD had a total Coots count of 250+ on all the Pools and asked the perennial question ” where do they all come from like this each winter ? “. Along the Sea Wall there were lots of Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, and an obliging Wheatear. No doubt this attracted a fly by Merlin which swooped by very low before disappearing over the Level. There are still no Grey Plovers on the beach but Curlew, Oystercatchers and Sandwich Terns are fairly approachable on the tide-line. Pochard and Wigeon have increased but not yet up to winter levels.

RHNR QUICKY

11 September 2021 Only time for a very short look at the RHNR this morning. Two juvenile LBbGulls were at the car park, one strolling around and the other on top of the Martello Tower. There were four Dunlin on the Salt Pool where a Spoonbill flew over from the east heading towards Ternery Pool. It could later be seen yet again amidst the roosting Cormorants in its typical fast asleep pose. Seven Black-tailed Godwits came over and circled around with a bird of prey behind them at one point. Too small for a Peregrine but probably the Hobby which appeared directly overhead a few minutes later.

THAT SPOONBILL AGAIN

09 September 2021 Back in the RHNR from the western end today. After the overnight thunderstorms things were strangely quiet. Robins and Cetti’s Warblers seem to be the only birds singing at the moment. There were still a few Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails around. Two groups of roosting birds were out on the tide-line silhouetted against the sun. But were only roosting Oystercatchers and Sandwich Terns with a mixed Gull roost nearby. By the time I had reached Ternery Pool it was time to play spot the Spoonbill. Work was being carried in front of the Hide out at Castle Water today so I thought the adult Spoonbill might have headed over onto the Reserve. Sure enough it was on one of the islands amongst Cormorants. It was in its usual one leg no head pose but did eventually preen and show itself well. The eastern most Hide on Ternery is always good for close views of the odd wader. Today it was a Redshank and a juvenile Ringed Plover. Over at the Denny Hide on Flatbeach sea mist drifted in and out making it difficult to photograph a distant wader. I am going to say Curlew Sandpiper but not 100% sure. Two Little Stints were reported by AP there earlier in the day. Over at the Salt Pool BhGulls and Sandwich Terns were roosting together and the only other birds of note on my return trip were three Avocets on the eastern Harbour Farm Pools watching a Carrion Crow picking at a probable Peregrine kill and a small flock of Canada Geese, also displaced for the day from Castle Water

LITTLE GULL

05 September 2021 Off around Castle Water again in the RHNR this morning with AP and JT, later joined by TW. Whilst looking for Marsh Mallow Moths ( none found ) at the north end of Castle Water we found a very dark Silver Y Moth. Four Wheatears were in the expected places on the ridges but again no Whinchats ( but TW had ten on the same fence line near Brede Bridge only yesterday! ). A family party of Sedge Warblers on the waters edge may possibly be the last we see this year. Heading over towards Camber Castle skeins of Greylag Geese flew in from the Brede Valley towards Castle Water, about 500 in total. At Castle Water the reeds are too high in front of the Haplin Hide, Barry? but many island are now visible and getting better by the day for waders. We had two Ruffs, four Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, six Little Ringed Plovers, and two Dunlin and heard a Greenshank. The regular BNG is now almost in winter plumage and showing well. Sharp-eyed AP spotted a Little Gull coming in and landing next to a BhGull and it later flew over onto another island to roost, it could so easily have been missed amongst the BhGulls. It is a scarce bird here at Castle Water. Two flocks of Curlews, totalling about 120 were feeding in various fields nearby. At another Pool near the Viewpoint 3 Great White Egrets and the adult Spoonbill first seen yesterday by JT were all visible along with an eclipse Garganey. A juvenile Buzzard was overhead and the two local juvenile Marsh Harriers were up in the same thermal. An excellent walk with 82 species seen, not many places in the country where you could do that.

MORE GREENSHANK

02 September 2021 Just a quick look at the Salt Pool and Ternery Pool this lunch hour at the RHNR. Up to five Greenshank were feeding or roosting or flying over the Salt Pool where there was also a late season Little Ringed Plover. Little Egrets have a small roost on one their favourite islands. Over at Ternery the assorted adult and juvenile Little Grebes were fishing close to the Hide, a few Redshank were scattered about and Stock Doves and a Kestrel were overhead.